Tony Parker was back for his first game since the All-Star Game and scored 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting and that is going to be the big story out of the Spurs win over Dallas Sunday night. And it should be. The Spurs are finally healthy as a team and we may finally get a real read on this team as it winds up for the playoffs.

But really, this was a vintage Spurs win in other ways.

In the first half San Antonio had 10 turnovers and were sloppy against a not-that-great Dallas defense. What the Spurs do — because they have veterans who know and fully buy into the system — is correct their mistakes. They adjust as well or better than any team in the league.

That is what really happened Sunday night. It wasn’t exactly a defensive game – the Spurs finished with an offensive rating of 113.9 points per 100 possessions, the Mavs 110.2 — but the Spurs put up 64 points in the second half turning the ball over just three times and were too much down the stretch for the Mavs.

San Antonio won 112-106 and is now 3-0 against Dallas this season. Which is not good for Dallas because if the playoffs started right now this is your first round 2-7 matchup.

Parker was hot from the start, scoring 10 of first 17 for Spurs. Rust? What is this rust you speak of?

He went on to score 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting, and he did his damage with penetration (4-of-6 at the rim) and from the midrange (5-of-7). He was also setting guys up, dishing out 7 assists. Late in the game he drove by Dirk Nowitzki in a double team for a key bucket. More than just having him back as a starter, this solidifies the rotation and the Spurs second unit looked better for it.

Of course, Parker got help. Tim Duncan had 17 points and 9 rebounds. Manu Ginobili scored all 15 of his points in the second half (plus had 7 assists).

Dirk Nowitzki had 22 points, Vince Carter had 21 off the bench continuing his hot play of late. However Dallas just could not get defensive stops down the stretch when they needed them. The Spurs didn’t get a lot, but they got enough.

Enough that they look much the better team in a seven game series if these teams do meet come the postseason.